Perth’s Growing Fashion Scene: Backstage Highlights from Three Local Runways
WORDS BY NFC STUDENT, HOLLY ADAMS
When you think of the fashion capitals of Australia, I guarantee your mind immediately goes towards the likes of Sydney and Melbourne. These cities are hotspots for all things style, making it hard to identify the bustling fashion communities in the rest of our Australian cities. Since beginning my journey at NFC in early October, I've made it my mission to find all things fashion in my home city of Perth, and through this I've learned how quickly Perth's fashion scene is growing and evolving!
This past week I've had the opportunity to experience not one, but three different runway shows within the city of Perth, which has truly shown me that we have such a vibrant and active fashion community in Western Australia.
My week began at the Variety Fashion Runway, hosted by the one and only Zahara Burton for her Miss World Australia campaign. Here, I had the wonderful chance to work alongside local designers and brands such as Poiset, Ocean Calls and Raimonds Dress hire. It also allowed me to make connections with fellow fashion students, hair and makeup artists, photographers and even models. I was surrounded by the most beautiful team of people that made my first backstage experience one to remember! From dressing models, to assisting designers in set up, and producing content for the shows social pages helped me to gain so much valuable experience.
I then had the opportunity to watch the North Metro Tafe Graduate fashion show. These student designers had spent the past year creating their graduate collections for the end of year runway, and each piece was so breathtaking. Held in the historic Perth Council House, it was amazing to see the future of fashion in Western Australia stood right in front of me.
My week ended with the Fremantle Spring Fashion Show, where I once again worked backstage with a variety of wonderful designers, artists and models. Although this show was incredibly hectic, with over 16 collections being shown, It was such a rewarding experience that truly pushed my boundaries. A highlight was meeting and working alongside the designer Karen Elizabeth Young, a true style veteran based in Perth.
These experiences proved to me that Perth has a lot more to offer than what first meets the eye, and that we have such a large and well connected Fashion community in our much isolated city. I am so grateful for all of the opportunities I have been given to heighten my skill set and meet some wonderful people here in Perth!